As lipases têm um papel importante no desenvolvimento da biotecnologia e são empregadas na química orgânica como biocatalisadores com alta regio- quimio- e enantiosseletividade. Além de permitir sínteses mais sustentáveis e que estão em concordância com os princípios da Química Verde. A resolução enzimática de aminas racêmicas tem se mostrado uma maneira eficiente de obter aminas enantiomericamente puras, que podem ser empregadas na síntese assimétrica de fármacos e agroquímicos. Neste trabalho a resolução enzimática de 4 aminas primárias sendo elas 2-amino-heptano 1, 2-metil-cicloexil amina 3, 1-metil-3-fenilpropilamina 2, 1,2,3,4-tetra-hidro-1-naftilamina 4, foram estudadas obtendo-se resultados relevantes. Para a 2-amino-heptano 1 resultados semelhantes aos da literatura foram obtidos com uma redução de 2,4 vezes no tempo reacional quando a resolução cinética foi em hexano na presença de CAL-B e acetato de etila como acilante obteve-se uma conversão na (R)-N-(1-metil-hexil)acetamida 4 de 42% e um excesso enantiomérico de 88% (tempo = 7h). Observaram-se também os efeitos da concentração de lipase no meio reacional, da temperatura e de diferentes solventes frente a 11 lipases. Os primeiros estudos de resolução cinética enzimática com a 2-metilcicloexil-amina 3 são apresentados neste trabalho com conversões de até 98% porém sem excesso enantiomérico. Uma outra característica das lipases é a capacidade de catalisar reações diferentes da sua função natural (promiscuidade), o que permite que elas catalisem reações de adição de Michael, além de suas reações normais que são a hidrólise e esterificação. A adição de Michael catalisada por lipases entre as 4 aminas primárias já citadas e acrilonitrila foi estudada com e sem a influência da irradiação micro-ondas, demonstrando a maior estabilidade de lipases imobilizadas sob irradiação micro-ondas. Os adutos de Michael obtidos (3-[(1-metil-hexil)amino]propanonitrila 9, 3-[(1-metil-3-fenilpropil) amino]propanonitrila 10, 3-[(2-metil cicloexil)amino]propanonitrila 11 e 3-(1,2,3,4-tetra-hidronaftaleno-1-amino)propanonitrila 12) foram sintetizados pela primeira vez com a metodologia onde foi utilizada a água, acrilonitrila e irradiação micro-ondas e os adutos 9, 10 e 11 não são descritos na literatura. Outro viés do trabalho foi a clonagem e expressão da álcool desidrogenase de Bacillus subtilis que foi clonada, expressa e purificada com sucesso. O interesse em tal enzima deve-se a resultados obtidos na literatura onde a utilização de células íntegras de B. subtilis apresentou a redução de cetonas a álcoois com alta enantiosseletividade. / Lipases present an important role in the development of biotechnology and are employed as biocatalysts in organic chemistry with high regio-, quimioand enantioselectivity. Besides allowing more sustainable syntheses that are consistent with the principles of Green Chemistry. The enzymatic resolution of amines has been shown to be an efficient way to obtain enantiomerically pure amines, which can be used in asymmetric synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. In this work the enzymatic resolution of 4 primary amines them being 2-amino-heptane textbf 1, 2-methyl-cyclohexyl amine 3, 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine 2 1.2 ,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylamine 4 were studied by obtaining relevant results. For the 2-amino-heptane 1 promoted results similar to the literature and were obtained with a 2.4 times reduction of the reactional time when the kinetic resolution was in hexane in the presence of CAL-B and ethyl acetate as acylating obtained a conversion in (R)-N-(1-methyl-cyclohexyl) acetamide 4 by 42 % and an enantiomeric excess of 88 % (time = 7h). We studied the effects of the concentration of lipase in the reaction, temperature and solvent using 11 different lipases. The first studies of enzymatic kinetic resolution with 2-methyl-cyclohexyl- amine 3 are presented in this work with conversions up to 98% but without enantiomeric excess. The ability of lipases to catalyze reactions with different natural function (promiscuity) is an important property, which allows them to catalyze Michael addition reactions beyond their normal reactions, the hydrolysis and esterification. The Michael addition catalyzed by lipases between the four aforementioned primary amines and acrylonitrile was studied with and without the influence of microwave irradiation, demonstrating the greater stability of immobilized lipases under microwave irradiation. The Michael adducts obtained (3 - [(1-methylhexyl) amino] propanonitrile 9, 3 - [(1-methyl-3-phenylpropyl) amino] propanonitrile 10, 3 - [(2 - methyl cyclohexyl) amino] propanonitrile 11 and 3 - (1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-amino) propanonitrile 12) were first synthesized with the method where water is used, acrylonitrile and microwave radiation, the adducts 9,10 and 11 are not described in the literature. Another investigation of this study was the cloning and expression of alcohol desidrogrenase of Bacillus subtilis which has been cloned, expressed and purified successfully. Interest in the enzyme due to results in the literature where the use of whole cells of B. subtilis showed the reduction of ketones with high enantioselectivity.

O trabalho abrange o estudo de biorreduções de cetonas por espécies vegetais, empregando-se homogenatos de células de tecidos de plantas já desenvolvidas (folhas) ou culturas de células de Rauwolfia sellowii e Cereus peruvianus em suspensão. Dentre os objetivos principais do trabalho estão: reduzir cetonas-modelo por culturas de células vegetais, avaliando a eficiência e estereosseletividade do processo. Desenvolver um procedimento de triagem por enzimas vegetais solúveis entre diversas espécies obtidas no campus \"Armando Salles de Oliveira\", através da manipulação de variáveis que sabidamente alteram a atividade enzimática. Este tipo de preparação enzimática é utilizado no estudo de rotas biossintéticas, mas o emprego de homogenatos de células vegetais na triagem por novos biocatalisadores é inovador, tendo sido demonstrado seu potencial como ferramenta na seleção de enzimas vegetais para a biotransformação de xenobióticos. A metodologia é simples e confiável, possibilitando o estudo de biotransformações por enzimas diferentes daquelas expressas em culturas de células e oferecendo maior garantia de que a atividade enzimática observada é originária da espécie vegetal em estudo, e não de microorganismos endofíticos, que podem atuar nas biotransformações em que se utilizam partes de plantas desenvolvidas como biocatalisador / The work focuses on the study of the bioreduction of ketones by plant species, using homogenates of already developed plant tissues cells (leaves) or of Rauwolfia sellowii and Cereus peruvianus cell cultures suspensions. Among the main objectives of the study are the evaluation of the efficiency and stereoselectivity of the ketone-reduction process in plant cell cultures. It was employed a screening procedure for soluble enzymes from different plant species found on campus \"Armando Salles de Oliveira\", through the manipulation of variables known to be related to the enzyme activity. This type of enzyme preparation has been already reported in studies of biosynthetic routes, but the use of homogenates of plant cells to the screening for new biocatalysts is innovative. In this work we could demonstrate the potential of this approach as a tool in the selection of plant enzymes for the biotransformation of xenobiotics. The methodology is simple and reliable, allows the study of biotransformations by enzymes different from those expressed in cultured cells, and provides greater assurance that the enzymatic activity observed originated in plant species under study, rather than in endophytic microorganisms, which can act in biotransformations that employ parts of developed plants as biocatalyst.

Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a reatividade de compostos orgânicos contendo boro frente a reações catalisadas por enzimas. Diferentes exemplos de álcoois secundários quirais contendo boro foram acetilados enantiosseletivamente pela lipase de Candida antarctica (CALB). Todas as reações ocorreram com excelente enantiosseletividade (E >200) e ambos os produtos acetilados, bem como os álcoois remanescentes foram obtidos com alto excesso enantiomérico (ee >99%). Além da resolução cinética enzimática, foi avaliado também o processo de resolução cinética dinâmica quimio-enzimática, empregando complexos de rutênio como agentes de racemização. Após estabelecer as condições adequadas para a reação, foi possível obter o produto acetilado de configuração-(R) com 83% de conversão, mantendo a enantiosseletividade observada na reação de resolução cinética enzimática. Como extensão ao trabalho realizado com os álcoois contendo boro, foi estudada a resolução cinética de aminas primárias quirais contendo boro. Foram avaliadas diversas condições reacionais para alcançar a máxima resolução cinética destas aminas via acilação enantiosseletiva catalisada pela lipase CALB. Excelente enantiosseletividade (E >200) e altos excessos enantioméricos (até >99%) foram obtidos utilizando acetato de etila tanto como reagente doador de acila como solvente da reação. Adicionalmente, foi investigada a reação de biorredução de cetonas pró-quirais contendo boro. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com as enzimas álcool desidrogenases (ADHs) purificadas dos microorganismos Rhodococcus ruber e Lactobacillus brevis. A ADH de R. ruber (ADH-A) promoveu a biorredução das cetonas aos respectivos álcoois de configuração-(R) com excelente enantiosseletividade (ee >99%), enquanto a ADH de L. brevis (ADH-LB) catalisou a redução de alguns exemplos de cetonas aos respectivos álcoois de configuração-(S), também com excelente enantiosseletividade. / In this work, was evaluated the reactivity of boron-containing organic compounds in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Different examples of boron-containing chiral secondary alcohols were resolved by enantioselective acetylation mediated by lipase from Candida. antarctica (CALB). All reactions showed excellent enantioselectivities (E >200) and both remaining substrates and acetylated product were obtained in high enantiomeric excesses (up to >99%). Besides the enzymatic kinetic resolution, the chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution was also evaluated, using ruthenium complexes as racemization agents. After establishing the best conditions, the acetylated (R)-product was obtained with 83% conversion, maintaining the high enantioselectivity observed in the enzymatic kinetic resolution. As an expansion of work with boron-containing alcohols, the kinetic resolution of boron-containing chiral amines was studied. Several reaction conditions were studied to achieve the kinetic resolution of boron-containing amines via enantioselective acylation mediated by CAL-B. Excellent enantioselectivity (E >200) and high enantiomeric excess (up to >99%) of both the remaining amines and amides were obtained using ethyl acetate as both acyl donor and the reaction solvent. Additionally, the bioreduction of pro-chiral boron-containing ketones was investigated. The best results were obtained with purified alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) from Rhodococcus ruber and Lactobacillus brevis. The ADH from R. ruber (ADH-A) mediated the bioreduction of ketones to their respective (R)-alcohols with excellent enantioselectivity (ee >99%), while the ADH from L. brevis (ADH-LB) catalyzed the reduction of some ketones to their respective (S)-alcohols, also with excellent enantioselectivity (ee >99%).

O trabalho abrange o estudo de biorreduções de cetonas por espécies vegetais, empregando-se homogenatos de células de tecidos de plantas já desenvolvidas (folhas) ou culturas de células de Rauwolfia sellowii e Cereus peruvianus em suspensão. Dentre os objetivos principais do trabalho estão: reduzir cetonas-modelo por culturas de células vegetais, avaliando a eficiência e estereosseletividade do processo. Desenvolver um procedimento de triagem por enzimas vegetais solúveis entre diversas espécies obtidas no campus \"Armando Salles de Oliveira\", através da manipulação de variáveis que sabidamente alteram a atividade enzimática. Este tipo de preparação enzimática é utilizado no estudo de rotas biossintéticas, mas o emprego de homogenatos de células vegetais na triagem por novos biocatalisadores é inovador, tendo sido demonstrado seu potencial como ferramenta na seleção de enzimas vegetais para a biotransformação de xenobióticos. A metodologia é simples e confiável, possibilitando o estudo de biotransformações por enzimas diferentes daquelas expressas em culturas de células e oferecendo maior garantia de que a atividade enzimática observada é originária da espécie vegetal em estudo, e não de microorganismos endofíticos, que podem atuar nas biotransformações em que se utilizam partes de plantas desenvolvidas como biocatalisador / The work focuses on the study of the bioreduction of ketones by plant species, using homogenates of already developed plant tissues cells (leaves) or of Rauwolfia sellowii and Cereus peruvianus cell cultures suspensions. Among the main objectives of the study are the evaluation of the efficiency and stereoselectivity of the ketone-reduction process in plant cell cultures. It was employed a screening procedure for soluble enzymes from different plant species found on campus \"Armando Salles de Oliveira\", through the manipulation of variables known to be related to the enzyme activity. This type of enzyme preparation has been already reported in studies of biosynthetic routes, but the use of homogenates of plant cells to the screening for new biocatalysts is innovative. In this work we could demonstrate the potential of this approach as a tool in the selection of plant enzymes for the biotransformation of xenobiotics. The methodology is simple and reliable, allows the study of biotransformations by enzymes different from those expressed in cultured cells, and provides greater assurance that the enzymatic activity observed originated in plant species under study, rather than in endophytic microorganisms, which can act in biotransformations that employ parts of developed plants as biocatalyst.

Os polímeros tornaram-se relevantes em nossa vida cotidiana devido à variedade de utilidades que estes possuem. Ao observarmos a nossa volta percebemos que estamos imersos em um mundo cheio de materiais poliméricos. A grande demanda destes materiais exige o incremento da produção global de polímeros. Isto traz consigo um maior consumo de recursos fósseis, acelerando o esgotamento dos mesmos e aumentando a geração e poluentes ambientais. Neste sentido, a polimerização enzimática tem sido considerada uma alternativa importante às técnicas convencionais de polimerização química. Existem descritos na literatura uma variedade de polímeros que foram preparados por polimerização enzimática e em alguns casos usando monômeros de origem biológica comercialmente disponíveis. Na grande maioria dos casos, esses compostos (monômeros) possuem sua reatividade bem estabelecida na literatura. Este projeto teve como motivação o estudo e desenvolvimento de metodologia visando obter novas poliamidas mediante polimerização enzimática em condições de fluxo contínuo, usando monômeros sintetizados a partir da integração de reações fotocatalíticas e reações enzimáticas. Em um primeiro momento, decidiu-se preparar o primeiro intermediário sintético, o 3-carbamoiloctanoato de metila (I), a partir da reação radicalar de amidação do trans-2-octenoato de metila com a formamida. Este composto foi usado como bloco de construção de novos monômeros. O amido-éster I desejado foi obtido a partir de três metodologias: Método fotocatalítico em condições de fluxo contínuo, utilizando como fotoiniciadores acetona e benzofenona; Método fotocatalítico em batelada, usando como fotocatalisador decatungstato de tetrakis(tetrabutilamônio) e método redox catalisado por Fe(II) em presença de ácido viii sulfúrico e peróxido de hidrogênio. A melhor condição reacional avaliada forneceu o composto com 47% de rendimento. Visando obter os monômeros de amida, uma vez obtido o primeiro intermediário de síntese, iniciou-se o estudo da reação de aminólise catalisada enzimaticamente deste substrato com mono e diaminas, em batelada e em fluxo contínuo, para compreensão da reatividade deste tipo de composto. Não foi possível obter o monômero desejado, ao invés disso, foi isolado o produto resultante da reação de aminólise de 1 equivalente do 3-carbamoiloctanoato de metila (I) com a 1,6-hexanodiamina. Este produto foi obtido com 11 % de rendimento. Paralelamente, com o desejo de obter poliamidas a partir de monômeros de base biológica, foi realizado um estudo da reação de aminólise do anidrido itacônico e itaconato de dimetila, com aminas alifáticas catalisada enzimaticamente sob condições de fluxo contínuo. Não foram obtidos os produtos desejados, ao invés disso, foi obtida a lactama correspondente com 70% de rendimento. / Polymers have become relevant in our lives due to their wide variety of applications. As we look around we realize that we are immersed in a world full of polymeric materials. The high demand for these materials requires an increase in the overall production of polymers. As a consequence, a higher consumption of fossil resources and an increasing generation of environmental pollutants would be expected. In this sense, enzymatic polymerization has been considered an important alternative to the conventional chemical polymerization techniques. A wide variety of polymers have been described in the literature, which have been prepared by enzymatic polymerization and in some cases using commercially available monomers from biological sources. In most cases, these compounds (monomers) have their reactivities well established in the literature. This project had as motivation a study and development of methodology to obtain new polyamides by enzymatic polymerization under continuous flow conditions, using monomers synthesized from the integration of photocatalytic reactions and enzymatic reactions. Initially, it was decided to prepare the synthetic intermediate (amide-ester I), from the amidation reaction of methyl trans-2-octenoate with formamide. This compound will be the building block for the new monomers. The desired amide-ester I was obtained from three methodologies: Photocatalytic method under continuous flow conditions, using acetone and benzophenone as photoinitiators; photocatalytic method using tetrabutylammonium decatungstenate photocatalyst and Fe (II) catalyzed redox method in the presence of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The best reaction condition provided the compound in 47% yield. x In order to obtain the amide monomers, we began a study to understand the reactivity of this type of compound in aminolysis reaction with mono and diamines catalyzed by lipase, under batch and continuous flow conditions. The desired monomer could not be obtained, instead the product resulting from the aminolysis reaction of 1 equivalent of the methyl 3-carbamoyloctanoate (I) with the 1,6-hexanediamine was isolated. This product was obtained in 11% yield. In parallel, also aiming to obtain polyamides from biologically based monomers, a study of aminolysis reaction of itaconic anhydride and dimethyl itaconate with aliphatic amines catalyzed by lipase was carried out under continuous flow conditions. The desired products were not obtained, instead, the corresponding lactam in 70% yield was obtained.

Devant la nécessité de préservation de l’environnement, la chimie devra de plus en plus devenir « verte ». Le développement de catalyseurs bio-hybrides est une voie prometteuse vers une chimie verte. En effet, ces catalyseurs combinent à la fois les avantages de la catalyse homogène (large gamme de réactivité) et ceux de la catalyse enzymatique (réaction en milieux aqueux, optimisation possible par génie biotechnologique). Ces nouveaux types de catalyseurs éco-compatibles semblent être à ce jour une alternative intéressante à la catalyse chimique classique.Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre du développement de nouveaux catalyseurs bio-hybrides appelés Hémozymes, basés sur l’insertion non covalente de complexes métalliques hydrosolubles (responsables de l’activité catalytique), au sein d’une protéine hôte : la Xylanase A (pouvant induire une régio/stéréo/chimio-sélectivité).Pour cette étude, nous avons synthétisé différents complexes métalliques de taille variable (porphyrines, salens et salophens) métallés soit par du fer soit par du manganèse. L’étude de leur association avec la Xln A ainsi que les essais de leur activité catalytique nous ont permis d’aboutir à des résultats intéressants, d’une part pour la réaction d’oxydation du thionanisole par le peroxyde d’hydrogène, d’autre part pour l’oxydation d’alcènes aromatiques par l’oxone (KHSO5). Nous avons ainsi obtenu deux métalloenzymes artificielles remarquables, l’une capable de catalyser l’oxydation énantiosélective du thioanisole par le peroxyde d’hydrogène (84% de rendement, 40% d’excès énantiomérique en faveur de l’isomère S), l’autre capable de catalyser l’époxydation asymétrique du paraméthoxy-styrène par KHSO5 (17% de rendement, 80% d’excès énantiomérique en faveur de l’isomère R). Enfin, de nouvelles stratégies pour concevoir des catalyseurs bio-hybrides ont également été envisagée comme le greffage covalent de complexes métalliques au sein d’une protéine hôte, ou encore l’utilisation d’une forte affinité ligand-protéine (comme les interactions de type inhibiteur) pour enfouir un cofacteur métallique au sein d’une protéine. / In those days, the preservation of the environment is a huge challenge, so chemistry has to become more "Green". The development of bio-hybrid catalysts is a promising way towards a green chemistry. Indeed, these catalysts both combine the benefits of homogeneous Catalysis (wide range of reactivity) and those of enzyme catalysis (reaction in aqueous media, possible optimization by biotechnological engineering). These new kind of eco-compatible catalyst seem to be an interesting alternative to classical chemical catalysis to this day.For this study, we have synthesized various complexes with various size (porphyrins, salens and salophens) metalled by iron or manganese. The study of their association with Xln A and the catalytic activity assays allowed us to achieve interesting results, on the one hand to the oxidation of the thionanisole by hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand for the oxidation of aromatic alkenes by the oxone (KHSO5).This thesis is about the development of new bio-hybrid catalysts called Hemozymes, based on the non-covalent insertion of water-soluble metal complexes (responsible for the catalytic activity), inside a host protein: Xylanase A (which can induce a regio/stereo/chemo-selectivity).We have thus obtained two remarkable artificial metalloenzymes, one able to catalyze the enantioselective oxidation of thioanisole by hydrogen peroxide (84% yield, 40% of enantiomeric excess for the S isomer), the other able to catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation of paramethoxy-styrene by KHSO5 (17% yield, 80% enantiomeric excess for the R isomerFinally, new strategies to develop bio-hybrid catalysts have also been considered, such as covalent linkage of metal complexes within a host protein or the use of a high ligand-protein affinity (such as the interactions of inhibitor with proteins) to introduce the metal cofactor inside the protein pocket.

This thesis describes synthetic studies towards the tricyclic terpene framework of the cytotoxic natural product eleutherobin, and the investigation of biocatalytic methodology towards late stage functionalisation of the structure. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the biomedical significance of the natural product and to the various synthetic studies reported to date. Chapter 2 explores intramolecular Diels-Alder approaches to the construction of the nine- and six- membered rings present in the natural product. Chapter 3 describes alternative approaches to the eleutherobin core structure, leading to a formal synthesis of the natural product. The synthetic sequence developed is applied to the preparation of a small library of furanoid analogues of eleutherobin. Chapter 4 details the development of methodology for the one-pot preparation of (E)-4-methylhexa-3,5-dien-1-ol, and its use in an intermolecular Diels-Alder/lactonisation sequence to achieve enantioselective preparation of an important lactone building block. Chapter 5 describes studies on the mP450-mediated oxidation of various eleuthoside structures obtained. Finally, Chapter 6 details the construction of an electrochemical flow cell, and its use for the anodic oxidation of furfuryl alcohol derivatives.

Chiral amines represent a pervasive structural motif found in various natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and fine chemicals. Their preparation in single-enantiomer form continues to attract significant research attention and although many advances have been made in the area of synthetic organic chemistry to increase the scope of the routes to these moieties, there remains an ever-growing need of general strategies for the assembly of structurally-diverse amines which also conform to the efficiency and environmental requirements of modern manufacturing processes. This report investigates biocatalytic routes as a means for constructing chiral amine scaffolds, which offer a more environmentally benign approach when compared with traditional chemocatalysed processes. Probing the catalysts available in the biocatalytic toolbox of enzymes, several routes were examined in more detail. Imine reductases (IREDs) represent a recent addition to the toolbox, enzymes which by definition are able to reduce pre-formed imines to their corresponding amines with high selectivity. This report analyses the (R)-imine reductase [(R)-IRED] from Streptomyces sp. GF3587, one of the first imine reductases identified for its biocatalytic potential, in greater depth. The enzyme was found to catalyse the reduction of a broad range of cyclic imines while displaying high levels of activity and selectivity, thereby offering a direct route of access to chiral secondary and tertiary amines. Substrate kinetic parameters were established for the enzyme in order to understand its substrate preferences and the enzyme’s catalytic mechanism was probed through the generation of mutant (R)-IREDs. Owing to their operation under physiological conditions as well as the orthogonal nature of their reactions, it is possible to combine multiple enzyme reactions to enable cascades. This report examines a multi-enzyme reaction combining ω-transaminases (ATAs) with imine reductases, for the synthesis of chiral disubstituted piperidines from simple diketone substrates. The cascade was then taken a step further by the inclusion of the carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) enzyme, for the synthesis of the nitrogen-containing heterocycles morpholine and thiomorpholine from ketoacid compounds. Finally, the well-established deracemisation technique, employing a selective amine oxidase (AO) with either a non-selective chemical reducing agent or a biocatalytic reductant (IRED), was explored in more detail by encompassing new substrate motifs. As biocatalysis becomes more readily accepted as a general technique in the synthetic chemist’s repertoire, the concept of carrying out enzymatic reactions in constant flow was explored as a means for applying this methodology with increased production and decreased processing rates.

Quaternary centres bearing a nitrogen atom are found in natural products and therapeutic agents but they represent a remarkably challenging synthetic motif to access when stereochemical control is required. This thesis details investigations into the development of an innovative approach that - by combining biocatalysis with organolithium chemistry - allows the synthesis of enantioenriched α-tertiary amines. The strategy relies on the initial enzymatic asymmetric synthesis of amines. Two complementary pathways were identified: deracemisation with amine oxidases or enantioselective reduction with imine reductases. The enantioenriched amines were converted to the corresponding N-benzyl-N'-aryl ureas and subsequent organolithium-mediated stereospecific aryl migration developed in the Clayden group were carried out to obtain α-tertiary amines. Various scaffold were investigated: 1,1-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, 2,2-disubstituted azepane and 1,1-disubstituted 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[c]azepine derivatives were successfully synthesised. The methodology was extended to acyclic systems, giving 3-pyridyl-derived α-tertiary amines.

Novel biocatalysts for the enantioselective reduction of imines and reductive amination of a broad range of carbonyl compounds have been developed. Unlike other imine reductases (IREDs), the IRED from Amycolaptosis orientalis (AoIRED) features an aprotic "catalytic" residue Asn171 and as such became an interesting candidate for detailed mechanistic, specificity and stereoselectivity studies. AoIRED has been shown to be an efficient catalyst for the enantioselective reduction of imines and iminium ions to yield the corresponding chiral amines in high conversions and good to excellent enantioselectivity. The enzyme exhibits unusual stereoselective properties, displaying a selectivity switch for structurally similar substrates and in certain cases for the same substrate depending on the age of the enzyme. Mutagenesis studies have highlighted important residues that may play key roles in the substrate specificity and stereoselectivity of the enzyme. The reductive aminase from Aspergillus oryzae (AspRedAm) is a multifunctional catalyst that efficiently catalyses i) the reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds and amine nucleophiles, ii) the enantioselective reduction of prochiral cyclic and preformed imines or iii) the oxidative deamination of amines towards kinetic resolution of racemic amines. Detailed kinetic studies have led to the construction of a kinetic model/mechanism and based on structure guided investigation of conserved active site residues, a putative catalytic mechanism has been proposed. It has also been possible to engineer wild-type AspRedAm for improved stereoselectivity as well as to invert the enzyme's enantioselectivity towards a range of substrates. Using AspRedAm as a catalyst, efficient systems have been developed that allow the kinetic resolution of several racemic amines. This thesis has been organised into separate chapters each addressing a specific theme. Chapter 1 gives an overview of recent advances in the field of amine biocatalysis with emphasis on biocatalytic imine reduction and reductive amination; it also outlines the objectives of this project. Chapter 2 describes methods and materials used in these studies while Chapters 3-7 present and discuss results from different projects that constitute the work in this thesis. Initial discovery and characterisation studies of IREDs are described in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 describes detailed characterisation of AoIRED with particular emphasis on stereoselectivity and synthetic applicability while Chapter 5 presents and discusses results from the study of the reductive aminase (AspRedAm) from Aspergillus oryzae. Chapters 6 and 7 respectively describe the engineering of AoIRED and AspRedAm, and the application of AspRedAm in kinetic resolution of racemic amines. The results from these chapters have been summarised and discussed in Chapter 8 and recommendations for future directions in this field have been offered.